12 Pro-Gay Pro Athletes: The Tolerant Dozen

Currently, there are no openly gay active players in any of America’s major professional sports. That could change.

Share

Your Reach

Brendon Ayanbadejo—Baltimore Ravens Linebacker

Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo ignited an inadvertent firestorm when he made a habit of writing op-eds and appearing in televised ads to support same-sex marriage. A Maryland legislator, Emmett C. Burns, fired off a letter of protest to Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, demanding that the Ravens owner muzzle his gay tolerant linebacker.

Ayanbadejo, seen above addressing a group of former football players as they discuss the ways they believe the NFL and the NFL players union has failed to deliver appropriate pensions and medical benefits for them at the National Press Club in Washington, June 20, 2011, is not a person prone to being muzzled when speaking out for a cause.

He’s not the only Baltimore Raven who can speak frankly and with an open mind. “A bunch of my teammates were men about it,” said Ayanbadejo in the wake of Burns’s letter. “They had real, honest conversations with me.”

Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Chris Kluwe—Minnesota Vikings Punter

The legacy of punter Chris Kluwe, #5 of the Minnesota Vikings, may end up coming from a letter rather than a kick. The Vikings’ special teamer picked up Maryland lawmaker Emmett C. Burns’s challenge to Baltimore Raven Brendon Ayanbadejo’s First Amendment rights as if it were a fumbled free throw and ran it back for the equivalent of an inside-the-park home run.

“I find it inconceivable that you are an elected official of Maryland’s state government,” begins Kluwe’s missive, printed in its not-suitable-for-wusses entirety on Deadspin. Kluwe poses a simple rhetorical question to Burns: “How does gay marriage, in any way shape or form, affect your life?”

The football player, who apparently has trained his imagination to take fanciful and vulgar leaps and bounds while waiting on the sidelines to go in and kick, goes on to suggest several ludicrous and obscene fears that might be plaguing lawmaker Burns. These fears center around body parts that throb and bodily emissions that could topple a presidency.

Whether wilting before Kluwe’s grotesque bodily imagery or bowing to the punter’s vitriolic logic, Emmett C. Burns backed down from his demands to muzzle Brendon Ayanbadejo and granted that the football player and the lawmaker both had the right to speak their minds.

Still, Burns has a ways to go before he can be applauded for granting the constitutionally guaranteed pursuit of happiness so freely recognized by the following 10 pro athletes.

Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

Antonio Cromartie—New York Jets Cornerback

New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, seen arriving at the 2012 Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards at Barker Hangar on February 18, 2012, in Santa Monica, California, posed in a photo as part of the NOH8 Campaign, lending his fame, credibility and face to the protest against California’s same-sex marriage ban and similar legislation.

Photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImage

Connor Barwin—Houston Texans Linebacker

Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin is openly proud of his gay brother and supports his brother’s rights to love and marriage.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Mat Latos—Cincinnati Reds Pitcher

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos is a bit of a joker, as evidenced by the photo above of Latos shoving a shaving cream pie in the face of Cincinnati Red Jay Bruce after Bruce hit the game-winning home run in the ninth inning of a game against the New York Mets.

Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Matt Birk—Baltimore Ravens Center

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, a teammate of linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, has spoken out strongly in support of other players’ freedom to speak out strongly. When asked if he would be willing to play with a gay teammate, Birk, seen above holding the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, answered: “Absolutely.”

Photo: Robert Galbraith/Reuters

Michael Strahan—New York Giants Defensive End

Retired New York Giants player Michael Strahan also has filmed a video expressing support for same-sex marriage.

Take a look and try to picture someone who would be silly enough to argue with the guy:

Photo: Ray Stubblebine/Reuters

Scott Fujita—Cleveland Browns Linebacker

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, seen above attending the 21st annual GLAAD Media Awards in Century City, California, filmed a video in support of Americans for Marriage Equality, part of the Human Rights Campaign.

Follow Us

about takepart

TakePart — a digital news & lifestyle magazine and social action platform for the conscious consumer — is a division of Participant Media, the company behind Pivot Television Network and important films such as An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting For Superman, Food, Inc., Good Night & Good Luck, Charlie Wilson’s War, Contagion, The Help, and many others. Learn more about Participant Media.